Merl Carter

ORAN, Mo. -- Johnnie Merl Carter, 94, of Oran died Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Sept. 12, 1915, at Union Grove, Ala., daughter of John H. and Claude Goodson Ponder. She and Buford "Windy" Carter were married Oct. 22, 1932. He died Sept. 11, 1978.

Merl was a box maker at International Hat Factory in Oran, retiring in July 1978. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Oran.

Survivors include a son, James M. (Sumi) Carter of Temecula, Calif.; a sister, Martha Lohnes of Pine Bluff, Ark.; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two sons, Alvin Carter and A.E. Damron; two daughters, Jean Neal and Carolyn Lyles; three brothers, Robert Ponder, Sam Ponder and Elbert Ponder; and two sisters, Erline Davenport and Elsie Phillips.

Visitation will be after 4 p.m. Friday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the chapel, with the Rev. Ed Carter officiating. Burial will be in Friend Cemetery.